App an instant aid on eating disorders

The movie “To the Bone” depicts the life of a young woman struggling with an eating disorder and has sparked much conversation about an illness that affects one in 10 Americans at some point in their lives. Now, an eating disorder app could help the two-thirds of people with eating disorders who never receive treatment due to stigma, lack of health insurance or lack of resources, said Claire Mysko, chief executive officer of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

“The app makes it easy for people to get help in the moment they recognize that they need it,” Mysko said. “We want them to connect for help immediately, and this provides them with a simple way to do that.”

The Recovery Record app allows users to log meals, answer questions developed by clinicians and connect to professional help. It also offers an eight-week program aimed at recovery. Launched in February as a partnership between NEDA and the mobile mental health platform Recovery Record, it has already led to 50,000 views of NEDA’s helpline, Mysko said. It was developed with Stanford University and the National Institute of Mental Health, which provided a $1.2 million grant.

“It is often years before people tell someone about their silent battle with eating disorders,” said Tregarthen, whose own sister kept her eating disorder from her family for three years. “With more than 80 percent of Americans now owning smartphones, we have an opportunity to provide immediate, private and evidence-based support. And we hope the app will break down barriers and empower more people to speak up and reach out as a result.”

Personal approach

Rebecca Blitzer, a certified eating disorder dietitian in Greenbelt, Md., also noted benefits from the app but echoed the importance of in-person counseling.